Rockefeller Center is built on land that was leased in 1928 by John D. Rockefeller Jr. The space was owned by Columbia University at the time. Rockefeller began building 14 commercial buildings with financing by the sale of stock and from credit he established from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. More buildings were added to the complex in the 1960s and 1970s. Today, Rockefeller Center is made up of 19 buildings that sit on 22 acres.
The construction of the original 14 buildings started in 1930 and was completed in 1939. The complex was given its name in 1931. The original lease was for 24 years with three options after those years, each for another 21 years. This would have extended the lease for 87 years, but the Rockefeller Group bought all 22 acres of land in 1985 for $400 million. The Rockefeller Group later sold the complex to Mitsubishi Estate in 1989. The original 14 buildings were sold again in 2000 to a syndicate of buyers that included Goldman Sachs and David Rockefeller.
The GE Building, Radio City Music Hall, Christie's auction house, the Bank of America Building and the Simon & Schuster Building are just a few of the famous buildings that are included in Rockefeller Center. Most of the buildings are office complexes that house one or more companies long term, such as 10 Rockefeller Plaza, which houses the "Today Show" as well as Aeroflot and other businesses.
The above-ground portion of Rockefeller Center is made up of well-known New York landmarks, but there is another, hidden aspect to the center. The Concourse is the underground section that includes walking tunnels that are interconnected to make it easier to get from one Rockefeller Center building to another. While commuting, pedestrians in the Concourse can enjoy world-class sculptures and shopping. The Concourse also has more than 100 stores as well as entrances to subway trains.
Rockefeller Center is largely known for the sunken plaza in front of 30 Rockefeller Center. This plaza is home to the ice-skating rink that was completed on December 25, 1936. The skating rink features a famous sculpture of Prometheus by Paul Manship that overlooks the skaters. Prometheus was a Greek mythological figure that brought fire to humans. The sculpture represents the vitality of the city.
